S1: Remember the song Stormy Weather? Well, I sometimes think it
S1: should be included in our hymnals from time to time.
S1: We all face stormy weather, storms in life. Stay with me.
S1: We'll talk about God's purposes for the storms of life
S1: in just a moment. Hello, friends. Welcome to Open Line
S1: with Doctor Michael Ray Moody radio's Bible study Across America.
S1: My name is Michael Ray Dolnick. I'm the academic dean.
S1: I'm also a professor of Jewish studies and Bible at
S1: Moody Bible Institute. And we're here together live sitting around
S1: the radio kitchen table taking your questions about the Bible, God,
S1: and the spiritual life. If you have a question and
S1: you'd like to call the phone number, here is (877) 548-3675.
S1: Let me give you that one more time. (877) 548-3675. Tricia
S1: McMillan is in the producer's chair. Ryan McConaughey is handling
S1: all things technical and TR is answering the phones again.
S1: Phone number (877) 548-3675. People say, how do I get in?
S1: Best time to call right now at the beginning of
S1: the program so we can get you set up with
S1: your call? Well, time to go get yourself a cup
S1: of coffee and open your Bible, because we're about to
S1: study the scriptures together. Well, I have to say this.
S1: I have a dear friend may even be listening. He
S1: is going through a major storm right now. He's dealing
S1: with cancer. He's already had surgery. He's struggling with chemotherapy
S1: right now. And truthfully, it's a big storm. And I
S1: was thinking about him and I thought, you know, we
S1: all have faced and will face and continue to face
S1: storms in life from time to time. It might be
S1: a health crisis like his, or maybe it's a relational
S1: blow up or a financial downturn. Or you can think
S1: of it however you like. We go through storms, we
S1: can hear the thunder, we can see the lightning in
S1: our lives. And we wonder, why would the Lord Jesus
S1: allow this in my life? People ask me that all
S1: the time. Why is God allowing this? Well, the Mark
S1: chapter four, verses 35 through 41, we can learn not
S1: only why the Lord Jesus allows the storms in life,
S1: but why he actually deliberately places us in in those storms.
S1: If you read Mark 435 through 41, it says this.
S1: On that day when evening had come, he told them,
S1: let's cross over to the other side of the sea.
S1: So they left the crowd and took him along. Since
S1: he was already in the boat and other boats were
S1: with him. A fierce windstorm arose, and the waves were
S1: breaking over the boat so that the boat was already
S1: being swamped. But he was in the stern, sleeping on
S1: the cushion. So they woke him up and said to him, teacher,
S1: don't you care that we're going to die? He got up,
S1: rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, silence! Be still.
S1: The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. Then
S1: he said to them, why are you fearful? Do you
S1: still have no faith? And they were terrified, and asked
S1: one another, who then is this? Even the wind and
S1: the sea obey him. I think, like the disciples, we
S1: sometimes have mistaken ideas about storms. Arms. I think they
S1: had three mistaken ideas. One. Like them. We think that
S1: storms are random. You know, it says in verse 35,
S1: when evening had come, he told them, let's cross over
S1: to the other side of the sea. Now remember, this
S1: is the one who rebukes the wind and the sea.
S1: He knows what is going to happen. This is the
S1: one who creates the world and the weather. And so
S1: when he says, let's cross over, it doesn't mean he
S1: doesn't know that verse 37 will happen, that a fierce
S1: windstorm will come up. Storms are not part of cosmic roulette,
S1: but they are deliberate. The Lord Jesus told them to
S1: get in the boat knowing that a storm was coming.
S1: So often we think they're just random. You know, when
S1: I came to faith in Jesus more than 50 years ago,
S1: it was very popular to use the four spiritual laws
S1: and they would say, God loves you and has a
S1: wonderful plan for your life. Well, I came to know
S1: the Lord and within a month my dad had disowned
S1: me and I thought, is this God's wonderful plan for
S1: my life? I didn't make any sense, but it wasn't
S1: a random event. It was something that God placed me
S1: into deliberately. The Lord put me there for a reason.
S1: It's not random. And secondly, like the disciples, we think
S1: the Lord Jesus is unaware of the storm. It says
S1: in verse 38 that he was in the stern, sleeping
S1: on a cushion. And you know when you're sleeping, when
S1: we're sleeping, we're often not aware of what's going on.
S1: I have to say this about the Lord Jesus. Even
S1: though he had to sleep from fatigue in his human,
S1: he's fully God and fully man. In his humanness, he
S1: had to rest. His deity always knew what was going on.
S1: It's not that he's unaware. That's a mistaken idea. The
S1: reason I would say that is in Psalm 121 four
S1: it says, he that guards Israel neither slumbers nor sleeps.
S1: So the God of Israel always knows what's going on.
S1: It's not that he's unaware. And then the third mistaken
S1: idea we have is we think the Lord Jesus doesn't
S1: care about our storm. It says in verse 38 and
S1: the second half of the verse, they woke him up
S1: and said to him, teacher, don't you care that we're
S1: going to die? They thought he didn't care. Well, of
S1: course the Lord Jesus cared. Think about the Lord Jesus
S1: going to see Martha and Mary after their brother Lazarus
S1: had died. And how it says that short verse Jesus
S1: wept because he cared so much for them. So we
S1: do have mistaken ideas about storms, but what are the
S1: correct ideas that we need to have? What are the
S1: real reasons for the storms in life? Well, verse 39,
S1: the Lord Jesus, uh, says he gets up. He rebukes
S1: the wind. He tells it silent. Be still. You know,
S1: and it stops. And then it says, why are you fearful?
S1: Do you still have no faith? Part of the reason
S1: for a storm is to build our faith, to grow
S1: our trust in him. When we're in a storm, we
S1: either have to abandon hope or trust that God knows
S1: and he's in charge. He's encouraging them to trust him,
S1: and he encourages us in our storms to increase our faith,
S1: to trust him more and more. Secondly, verse 41 shows
S1: another true reason. It says they were terrified. And then
S1: they say when they see the the storm stop. Who
S1: then is this? You see what he was doing by
S1: rebuking the wind and the waves, by showing his sovereignty
S1: over the weather, that this isn't just an ordinary Bible
S1: teacher from Galilee. He is showing that he is the
S1: God of creation. He is in charge of this. Who
S1: then is this? He is revealing his true identity as
S1: God in the flesh. That's what he does. Every time
S1: we're in a storm, when we cry out to him,
S1: he reveals his true identity. The God who is sovereign
S1: over our lives and caring for us. So it reveals
S1: his true identity. And then thirdly, it demonstrates the Lord's
S1: power over all the storms of life. In verse 41
S1: it says, who then is this? Even then even the
S1: wind and the sea obey him. How could it be?
S1: You see, he is more powerful than any storm we're
S1: going through. He can control it because he is more powerful.
S1: So what do I say about this? When we're in
S1: the midst of the storm, whether it's a financial crisis,
S1: whether it's an emotional problem, whether it's a relational disruption,
S1: whether it's a physical ailment, whatever it is that we're facing,
S1: whatever storm we're in and what we need to do,
S1: we need to do what the disciples did, cry out
S1: to the Lord Jesus, and then he'll show us just
S1: how powerful he really is. Well, I'm so glad that
S1: you're listening. And one of the ways that the Lord
S1: showed his power, and I wanted to remind you of
S1: this was in the book of acts. So often we
S1: think of God's power revealed in the book of acts,
S1: is through the wonderful signs and wonders that take place
S1: in the book of Acts. But the real power in
S1: the book of acts is the advance of the good
S1: news from Jerusalem to Samaria, to Judea, to Samaria, and
S1: then to the remotest part of the earth, even to Rome.
S1: And that's why I've chosen a wonderful resource for this month.
S1: It's called the Everyday Bible Commentary on Acts. It was
S1: written by one of my favorite professors in seminary. His
S1: name is Charles Ryrie. It is a terrific resource. It
S1: is something that will enhance your understanding of God's Word.
S1: And so, uh, I really recommend it. And it's yours.
S1: We just want to send it to you to say
S1: thank you for a gift of any size. So as
S1: you give a gift, uh, feel free to ask for
S1: this book. The Everyday Commentary on Acts. If you'd like
S1: to make a gift and receive the everyday Bible commentary
S1: on acts. Just call (877) 548-3675. And we're going to talk
S1: to Linda in Ohio listening on Wtxf. Welcome to Open Line. Linda.
S1: How can I help you today?
S2: I have a question concerning the Holy Spirit and like
S2: I and my devotional. They're always speaking of like, ask
S2: the Holy Spirit to help you whenever you speak, you know,
S2: or you know, like I'm going to like, pray. Am
S2: I praying to the Holy Spirit? No. I think we
S2: need to hear a little bit more about, like what
S2: part the Holy Spirit plays in our life. I know
S2: he's our comforter. I know what he does for me,
S2: I believe.
S1: Okay, so, Linda, I think your question is, should we
S1: pray to the Holy Spirit to help us? Is that
S1: what I hear you asking? Yeah.
S2: That's the way her, her, her journal. Her.
S1: Yeah. Well, here's the thing. In the Bible, there's some
S1: pretty clear directions in the New Testament of how we're
S1: to pray. We need to pray to the father. That's
S1: who we address our prayers to in the name of
S1: the son. That doesn't just mean a little, uh, formula
S1: that we say at the end of prayers, meaning, okay,
S1: let's eat when we pray in the name of the
S1: Lord Jesus. What we're saying is he is our advocate.
S1: He is our representative. He is our advocate with with
S1: the father, our priest, our mediator. And that's why we're
S1: praying in his name. And so we pray to the
S1: father in the name of the son, by the power
S1: of the Holy Spirit. I think that what we do
S1: is we ask the Lord to show us, uh, it's
S1: not enough to pray about what's on our hearts. We ask, uh,
S1: the Lord Jesus to show us. We ask the father
S1: in the name of the Lord Jesus, to show us
S1: what we're to pray for. And he empowers us by
S1: His Spirit, uh, and impresses by His Spirit on what
S1: we're to pray for. But all that to be said,
S1: you know, when I look at the scriptures, there's only
S1: one prayer directed to the Lord Jesus. That's when Stephen
S1: Steven is about to be martyred, he as he's dying,
S1: he says, Lord Jesus, into your hands I commit my spirit.
S1: That's the only prayer directed to the Lord Jesus. Prayer
S1: is always directed to the father in the name of
S1: the son, by the power of the Holy Spirit. Now
S1: that said, I don't think that God is as legalistic
S1: as we are. Uh, that oh, if you pray to
S1: the Holy Spirit, he won't hear you. But I think
S1: that the Holy Spirit is the shy member of the
S1: Triune God, and would rather that we pray to the
S1: father in the name of the son. I hope that helps. Linda,
S1: we're going to take a break here, and when we
S1: come back, we'll talk with you about your question about
S1: the Bible, God or the spiritual life. Again, our phone
S1: number (877) 548-3675. We're going to talk about whatever it is
S1: that you want to talk about regarding the scriptures. So
S1: stay with me. This is Michael Ray Dolnick and I'll
S1: be right back. Welcome back to Open Line. So glad
S1: to be with you today. I did want to tell
S1: you about the Chosen People Ministries, Messianic Jewish art calendar. Uh,
S1: a lot of people say, why in the world do
S1: you have a calendar that comes out in August or September?
S1: It starts with September. Well, the reason is just like
S1: school starting in September, and there's a lot of academic
S1: calendars that start in September. The Jewish festivals start of
S1: the year, start the Jewish New Year, Rosh Hashanah begins
S1: in September. And so this calendar goes September through December.
S1: It's a 15 month calendar. Uh, but what's really especially
S1: great about it is it tells the story, this one
S1: in particular, the story of the Jewish people in the
S1: land of Israel. It says from the promise given to
S1: Abraham through exiles and returns, and then stated, and even
S1: ten seven God's hand has always been evident, caring for
S1: the Jewish people. And this is a terrific calendar. It's yours.
S1: All you have to do is go to our website. Open.
S1: It's free. Just go to Openline radio.org. Scroll down and
S1: click on the link that says A Free gift from
S1: Chosen People Ministries. I'm so grateful. Chosen people partners with
S1: us to bring you with Moody to to bring you Openline. Uh,
S1: also chosen people as partnering with Moody for an upcoming
S1: conference November 9th. It's called the Summit opposing anti-Semitism. It's
S1: a very special day. I'll be speaking. Doctor Mark Jobe,
S1: president of Moody, will be speaking. Mitch Glazer, president of
S1: Chosen People ministries will be speaking. Even Don Sweeting, the
S1: son of former president of Moody, George Sweeting, he's the
S1: chancellor of Colorado Christian University. He's a terrific speaker, someone
S1: I went to college with and someone I really appreciate
S1: about his understanding and heart for God's love for the
S1: Jewish people. And it's a summit teaching us how we're
S1: to take a stand and oppose anti-Semitism, how believers today,
S1: how churches can take a stand with the Jewish people
S1: and oppose anti-Semitism. If you're interested in joining us, I
S1: hope you will. It's in Chicago, November 9th, 2024. What
S1: you have to do is go to our website, openline radio.org,
S1: and you can click on the link. There's a banner
S1: that says The Summit on Opposing anti-Semitism. And we're going
S1: to talk to Craig in Minnesota right now listening on Ktag.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Craig. How can I help you?
S3: Thank you. Yes. Several weeks ago, I was teaching on
S3: Genesis and I said that there are three verses Genesis 126,
S3: 322 and 11 seven that are evidences that the Trinity
S3: is in Genesis. Because in all three of those verses
S3: the pronoun us is used by God, referring to himself.
S3: I just wanted to make sure that I was correct
S3: in what I'm teaching.
S1: Well, it seems to me that it's a little too
S1: much of a jump to say the Trinity is taught
S1: in Genesis. I think that there is the plurality of
S1: the Godhead being taught in Genesis, that it indicates there's
S1: some sort of mystery form, a plurality in his oneness.
S1: I think that's what what we see there. Uh, you know,
S1: the Trinity takes a lot more revelation from Scripture about
S1: the father and the son and the Holy Spirit and
S1: to know all that. But I think you're right that
S1: that this is beginning the the information it's starting that
S1: hint of of that great mystery form of God does that.
S1: You know what I'm saying here? Now, there are some people.
S3: I understand, I think I used in my teaching the
S3: word evidence.
S1: Of. Yeah, yeah, it's the beginning revelation of it. Uh,
S1: there are some people who say that God says, let
S1: us make man because he speaks, uh, with the plural
S1: of majesty. You know, when you're like, Queen Victoria never
S1: used the first person about herself.
S3: Royalty.
S1: Yeah. And other people think that he's talking to the angels,
S1: which that doesn't make any sense, because, uh, the angels are.
S1: Man is not made in the image of God. And
S1: he says, let us make man in our image and
S1: according to our likeness. So I don't think he's speaking
S1: to the angels. I think the best answer on this
S1: is in the context it says, let us make man
S1: in our image and according to our likeness. And then
S1: he makes man in his own image. Verse 27, he
S1: created him singular in the image of God. And then
S1: it says, he created them male and female. So one
S1: aspect of the image of God is that in humanity's oneness,
S1: we're all human beings. There's a plurality, there's male and female. Right.
S1: And so I think that's a little clue for what
S1: he is doing when he says, let us make man
S1: in our image, that just as in the mysterious Godhead
S1: that's described here in his oneness, there's also plurality. So
S1: in the image of God, humanity is created with oneness.
S1: All human beings with plurality, uh, male and female. So, yeah,
S1: I think I agree with you that this is the
S1: first hints of as we study scripture, uh, we become
S1: convinced that God is triune. Okay, Craig. Okay.
S3: Thank you. Just for an aside, I called you from Thailand.
S3: I work in Thailand for in Burma. And I called
S3: you from Thailand one time as well.
S1: Ah, where are you now? You're. Are you in Minnesota
S1: right now?
S3: No, I'm in Minnesota right now. So I'm I'm in
S3: many places, but not.
S1: Well, Craig. That's great. I'm so grateful you called from Thailand.
S1: That's a wonderful experience for me, you know, to know
S1: that people are listening all over the world. I really
S1: appreciate it. So. Okay, Craig, thanks for your call. I
S1: really appreciate it. Talk to you later. We're going to
S1: talk to John in Indiana. Welcome to Open Line, John.
S1: How can I help you?
S4: Good morning. Thanks. Good morning. Thanks for taking my call.
S4: My question is difficult to put into words, but I'm
S4: going to take a shot at it. So I'm I'm
S4: confused by the doctrine of election, how God chooses us,
S4: you know, from before the foundation of the world versus
S4: our responsibility to accept Christ in our heart, you know,
S4: believe in our heart and confess with our mouth? And
S4: then how does that tie in to the narrow gate
S4: and the, you know, the difficult road? What what does
S4: God do and what are we responsible for? So thank you.
S4: And I'll just listen.
S1: Thank you. Oh, well, don't hang up. Stay with me. Uh,
S1: I think that election is a challenging doctrine, because at
S1: the same time that the Bible teaches this great mystery
S1: of election, uh, the what makes it so mysterious or, uh,
S1: challenging is that we still have a human responsibility to
S1: respond in faith, so. Okay. Uh, uh, it is what
S1: some have called an antinomy, uh, an apparent contradiction. That
S1: is not a contradiction in God. That when we we
S1: see in Scripture and what's so amazing is sovereign works
S1: of God are often put right next to human responsibility. Right. Uh,
S1: it's this is work out your salvation with fear and trembling.
S1: You know. Exactly. It says, For God is at work
S1: within you, both to will and to do it right.
S1: So how can that be? Well, they're both true that
S1: that there's a human responsibility and a divinely sovereign requirement
S1: that that opens our hearts and does all sorts of things.
S1: And and honestly, I, I don't ever I've given up
S1: trying to understand it. Uh, I think it was Spurgeon
S1: who said, uh, try to explain, uh, election and human responsibility.
S1: You'll lose your mind. Try and explain it away and
S1: you'll lose your soul. So, uh, that's that's what I
S1: would say is I just accept them both. I live
S1: with them both. I believe both when I pray for
S1: people to come to know the Lord, I pray as
S1: if it's all depends on God, that it's his election.
S1: And when I share my faith, I talk as if
S1: it all depends on me that I have to convince them.
S1: Even though I know God is the one who is
S1: sovereignly working. So that's how I kind of live with it. Yeah.
S1: So okay, real.
S4: Quick, let me ask for a clarification on the difference between,
S4: you know, believe in your heart and confess with your
S4: mouth and you will be saved versus the narrow gate
S4: and the long road. What is the long, difficult road
S4: if if we confess with our mouth and believe in
S4: our heart and we're saved, then what is the difficult
S4: road we have to follow?
S1: Uh, I think you're talking about, uh, the two paths
S1: in Matthew seven. Is that what you're talking about? Yes.
S4: Correct.
S1: Yes. Well, when you read that, uh, the two paths, uh,
S1: the way is broad, right? That leads to destruction. Enter
S1: through the narrow gate, for the gate is wide and
S1: the road is broad. That leads to destruction, for there
S1: are many who go through it. How narrow is the
S1: gate and the. And difficult the road that leads to life.
S1: And few find it. Well, I'd say that the broad path,
S1: the broad gate, the wide gate, and the broad path
S1: has to do with the people kind of ignoring what,
S1: you know, on the human side, the human responsibility side. Uh,
S1: that looks like, uh, you know, I don't want to
S1: really hear from God. I don't want to walk with him.
S1: And so they're rejecting the gospel, but the narrow gate.
S1: Its its narrow meaning there's fewer people and it's challenging.
S1: It's difficult. Uh, it's much more difficult to live an
S1: obedient life than a disobedient life. And along with that difficulty,
S1: if you heard the opening word today, there are storms
S1: on that narrow path, and God is using it to
S1: build our faith, to reveal who he truly is and
S1: to cause us to call out to him so he
S1: can show how powerful he really is. So yeah, the
S1: path is difficult, but it's a full of abundant life.
S1: I have to say this to most people don't realize this.
S1: Not knowing the Lord. That path is difficult to. It
S1: will lead to all sorts of struggles and pain. I
S1: like to say that in John 16 is the most
S1: underused promise in the Bible. Who claims it? In this
S1: world you will have tribulation. That's a promise. That's why
S1: the path is difficult, but God uses it to build
S1: our faith, to strengthen our walk with him. And so yeah,
S1: that's what it means when it says the path is
S1: narrow and the the road is difficult. It is difficult.
S1: But God is with us. Fear not. I've overcome the world.
S1: He says. That's what the Lord told us. Hope that
S1: helps a little bit. John, thanks for your call. We'll
S1: be right back with the mailbag and Tricia in just
S1: a moment, so don't go away. And we're back. I'm
S1: so glad to be with you today. And by the way,
S1: we've got a whole crowd here in the studio. Trish
S1: is here, Ryan's here, and tiara. Tiara is answering the phones. Tyra.
S1: There's two different people. Tiara is also assisting. She's working
S1: on production with Tricia, and she's here in the studio to.
S1: I love the teamwork that we have right here on
S1: Open Line. Uh, it is a great team. Moody radio,
S1: I think, gives me a great team. Listeners, you're part
S1: of the team. So grateful for all that you do
S1: and listening in. And also, I'm so grateful for our
S1: kitchen table partners. These are the people who commit. There's
S1: so much part of the team that they commit to
S1: give monthly to open line, so we can be on
S1: the air weekly. So grateful for that. If you do that,
S1: we're so grateful that we want to send you something
S1: and say thank you. And what we do is we
S1: send you a Bible study moment every other week. It's
S1: a special Bible study prepared exclusively for our kitchen table partners.
S1: You get it in the email, click on it, listen
S1: to it. Hopefully it's an encouragement to you, helps you
S1: understand the word a little bit better. And then, uh,
S1: of course you still get the monthly, uh, resource that
S1: we provide. So it is it is something that, uh,
S1: that we are so grateful for. And if you're considering
S1: becoming a kitchen table partner, just so you know, if
S1: you commit to $30 a month or more, one of
S1: the great benefits that you get then is 50% off
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S1: Moody Bible Commentary. So those are the kind of things
S1: that you might be interested in. Uh, if you'd like
S1: to become a kitchen table partner, just call (888) 644-7122. Now
S1: it's time for the FBC mailbag. That's the Far Eastern
S1: Broadcasting Company partnering with us to bring you the mailbag.
S1: It's a really terrific ministry, reaching people through media and
S1: personal touch. Uh, one of the ways to learn more
S1: about it is to go to FBC. Org click on
S1: the podcast, which is called Until All have Heard. Uh,
S1: I think that will give you a great vision and
S1: understanding for this wonderful ministry. Uh, okay. Tricia? Yes? I'm
S1: glad you're here. I wanted to get all that stuff
S1: out of the way, but it's still important. Uh, all that, and, uh,
S1: I think it's. It shouldn't be too long. We should
S1: probably get, uh, Ed Cannon from FBC on the air
S1: again when he's back in the country. He's always traveling
S1: all over the world. Uh, talk a little bit more
S1: about that wonderful ministry, but, uh, what have you got there?
S1: Did you? I see the mailbag seems to be growing.
S1: It is, it is.
S5: And we're getting ready to do a mailbag program that
S5: will air Labor Day weekend, so that'll be good. If
S5: you've emailed recently, we're going to record a new one, um,
S5: next week. And so if you or you've been sitting
S5: on a question that you haven't sent in, do it now,
S5: because I'll go through next week and I'll put the
S5: whole mailbag together for the mailbag program, and it'll air
S5: Labor Day weekend.
S1: Best way to do that is go to our website,
S1: Openline radio.org, and click on the link that says Ask
S1: Michael a question. Fill out the form and Trish will
S1: make sure your question gets into the mailbag.
S5: So yes our okay. So our first couple questions have
S5: to do with women. Um and I've invited Tara in
S5: to to help me ask these questions. But our first
S5: question is I thought more women voices would help I
S5: don't know. Yeah. Our first question is from Joy. Um,
S5: her church is having a meeting about whether or not
S5: they should have women become elders. Uh, she's heard both
S5: egalitarian and complementarian views. One which would say yes, and
S5: one which would say no. Um, but she doesn't want
S5: this to take place because of just changing times and culture.
S5: But in her looking at Scripture, there seem to be
S5: things that have been changed, like brothers becoming brothers and sisters.
S5: When that gets used in writing in the letters and
S5: different things. Um, but other things seem to stay the same,
S5: she says. I don't cover my head at church and
S5: I wonder how that was dropped. Who decides what stays
S5: and goes? But I think ultimately, should women be elders?
S1: I decide. Well.
S5: There are churches that will say one and other churches
S5: will say no. You know, so like who? Who's making
S5: those decisions on what's just cultural and what's what's what
S5: needs to stay.
S1: It's an independent church. Is obviously the elders of a
S1: church decide that. Uh, sometimes churches that are part of
S1: denominations will have a denominational responsibility. That's who decides. But really,
S1: the question is, uh, I want to say, first of all,
S1: that this is not one of those essential doctrines. You know, when,
S1: let's say, a church would decide to deny the triune
S1: nature of God. Okay. That God is 3 in 1.
S1: I would say that's essential. That would be something that
S1: I would say, you know what? I'm not going to
S1: stay in this church because I can't sit under false teaching. Okay.
S1: So but this the role of women, should they be
S1: elders or not? That's not one of those essential teachings.
S1: And so I could relax a little bit about this one.
S1: I think the simple answer is that some people take
S1: the limitations on women being elders in a cultural way.
S1: They say, oh, that's uh, it was just related to
S1: the culture of that time. It wouldn't have been acceptable
S1: for people because of beginning in the synagogue that, you know,
S1: it just wasn't really appropriate at that time for women.
S1: And so Paul laid down some limitations because of culture.
S1: But today it's no longer a problem. And so those
S1: limitations which were limited to that culture are not applicable
S1: to us. That's what's called the egalitarian position. And it's
S1: one that holds that women should be elders. Um, when
S1: I look at first Timothy two verse 12, it says,
S1: I do not allow a woman to teach or have
S1: authority over a man. Instead, my version says she is
S1: to be silent. It really should be translated. She is
S1: to be quiet. It's not talking about absolute silence, it's
S1: talking about a quietness of perspective. And then he gives
S1: two reasons, and one is the order of creation. For
S1: Adam was created first, then Eve, and then secondly. Adam
S1: was not deceived, but the woman was deceived and transgressed.
S1: So first of all, the order of creation. God could
S1: have chosen to to create Eve first and make her
S1: the leader in in the home. But God chose to
S1: do it the other way. That was God's sovereign choice.
S1: And then secondly, uh, he's not saying that women are
S1: more gullible, but the woman was deceived and transgressed. I
S1: think what he is saying is, look, God established an order.
S1: But who is the one that led the the man
S1: to this sin? It was the woman. Look at the
S1: the the bad consequences of ignoring the order that God established.
S1: And so that's what the second one is. But my
S1: point is those two reasons for male leadership in local congregations,
S1: the order of creation, the the consequences of the fall
S1: don't sound to me like they're limited to the culture.
S1: They sound like they go back to Genesis chapter one
S1: and chapter two and three. And so as a result
S1: of that, I would say that the principle of how
S1: to get along in the local congregation remains. Now, I
S1: do understand why I think the NIV has changed the
S1: translation where it says brothers to brothers and sisters, because
S1: there's a generic use of brothers, which meant all people. Uh,
S1: that's the generic, but not necessarily, uh. It doesn't. It
S1: encompasses brothers and sisters. It would be much more like today.
S1: I probably would translate it. People. You know, when I
S1: talk to my classes, I never say men or women
S1: or men and women. I just say, hey, people, when I,
S1: you know, that's how I talk. So that's probably the idea.
S1: And that's why some translations change brothers to brothers and sisters.
S1: So okay.
S5: So in this particular case, you would say the women,
S5: the men in usage of men being elders should stay.
S5: Men versus brothers could become brothers and sisters to encompass
S5: all people because of the word that is actually being
S5: used in the Greek.
S1: Yeah, it's a generic sense of the word brothers. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
S1: But the thing is, again, I don't think people should
S1: go to war over this, which, you know, believers in
S1: local congregations tend to want to go to war really easily.
S1: And this is not something to go crazy over. You know,
S1: a person might say, you know, I want I don't
S1: feel comfortable with, uh, changing the elders to women when
S1: I don't understand it to be so in Scripture, because
S1: it does look like it's tied to creation in the fall,
S1: not to the culture of the day. If a person says,
S1: I'll find a new congregation over that, I could understand that.
S1: But it's not essential because it's not an essential doctrine.
S5: Okay, so they wouldn't need to find a new congregation necessarily. Okay. No.
S5: All right, all right. Tyra, do you want to ask
S5: the next one that was also about women?
S6: Thank you for that answer, Michael. The next question is
S6: from Anne in Illinois, and she's listening from WNBA first
S6: Timothy chapter two, verse 15 claims that she shall be
S6: saved in childbearing if they continue in faith and charity
S6: and holiness with sobriety. And then she also compares that
S6: to Ephesians two, verses eight and nine. And so she
S6: says they're different. And how can you reconcile these scriptures?
S1: Well, first of all, the word saved. Doesn't always mean
S1: eternal salvation. What?
S5: It doesn't? Well, it doesn't help us in the English.
S1: In the context, it can mean delivered. And and I
S1: think that's what happens here. Remember, the context is I
S1: don't allow a woman to teach or exercise authority over
S1: a man. That's elder rule. I don't allow a woman
S1: to be an elder, is what he's saying. Then he
S1: gives the two reasons. One from creation, one from the fall. Right?
S5: Yeah.
S1: And then he says, but she will be delivered through
S1: bearing children. And what it means is, I think it
S1: means that she's going to have her life find its
S1: most its significance. She'll. Her life will be delivered her
S1: her significance will be delivered. Her impact will be delivered
S1: not by being an elder, but by bearing children if they.
S1: Some versions say if she but it's referring, it's literally
S1: if they the children continue in faith and love and holiness.
S1: In other words, the greatest impact a woman can have
S1: is raising children who will love the Lord. That would
S1: be her greatest ministry. Her significance will be delivered through childbearing. Now,
S1: I recognize there are some women that can't bear children.
S1: They're just they're single. Uh, or they just have medical
S1: issues that keep them from bearing children, and they choose
S1: not to adopt or they're past childbearing age. What do
S1: they do? Their kids are grown. There's much significance meant
S1: a lot of ministry of women can have. Apart from that.
S1: I think what he's really talking about is your greatest significance. Uh, and,
S1: and that's what he's saying, that the greatest impact you
S1: can make is through children now. The man who led
S1: I came to the Lord through a woman. A single
S1: woman never had children, but boy, I was always called
S1: one of Hilda Coser's kids because she led me to
S1: faith and had a cared for me. And then also
S1: the man who discipled me. He and his wife couldn't
S1: have kids, but there are so many teens that, uh,
S1: became part of his family. And to this day, I
S1: think of his wife, Arlene. Dan is with the Lord,
S1: but Arlene and Dan just adopted so many teens and
S1: cared for them. She had that impact in the lives
S1: of so many children. I'll even go further. Not just
S1: my life, but Dan and Arlene ministered to our new
S1: Jewish Studies professor taking over at Moody, uh, Michael Gabizon. And, uh,
S1: they just had that kind of great impact. So you
S1: don't have to actually physically bear children. You can have
S1: a great impact in that way as well. And so
S1: and it doesn't mean that's the only way you can
S1: have an impact, but the greatest impact. Tricia, you will
S1: ever have, I'll say that is through those wonderful kids
S1: you got. Mm.
S6: Thank thank you for that, Michael. It also sounds like
S6: this question deals with purpose and call. And you mentioned
S6: so much about discipleship. And we can disciple others. We
S6: can evangelize to others, whether they are whether they are
S6: our biological children or they're just someone in our sphere
S6: of influence.
S7: Yeah.
S1: There there are kids in our lives that we can
S1: have an impact on, especially moms, uh, not necessarily their mom,
S1: but women. If those kids to help them continue walking
S1: in faith and love and holiness, that's exactly the kind
S1: of impact you can have. So anyway, uh, it's basically
S1: saying don't pursue necessarily being an elder, pursue having that
S1: impact in the life of of those kids that God
S1: has put in your path. So thank you anyway. Thank you.
S1: Thanks for those questions. We're going to come back with
S1: more of your questions in just a moment. That was
S1: Tricia McMillan and Tara Haynes, and I'm Michael Melnick. I'll
S1: be right back. So don't.
UU: Go away. We're.
S1: So glad that you're listening today. Uh, my name is
S1: Michael Radonich. And, uh, we're going to go right back
S1: to the phones right now. We're going to talk to
S1: Randy in Illinois, listening on WDM over by the Quad Cities.
S1: Welcome to Open Line. Randy, how can I help you today?
S8: Uh, thank you for taking my call, Michael. Sure. Um,
S8: I was listening to you talk about, uh, Jesus calms
S8: the storm. Uh, you went through those passages, and it
S8: just hit me. It seems like, uh, we're just puppets
S8: on a string. Uh, what do you think about that? Uh, we,
S8: you know, Jesus knew there was going to be a storm,
S8: and he lays down in front of the boat. Uh,
S8: they go on the lake. And, of course, if Peter's there,
S8: I'm sure he was. You don't go on a lake
S8: in the dark, for one thing. But it just seems
S8: like we're puppets. Uh, he's going to know our reactions,
S8: and I just wondered about that. What do you think?
S1: I don't think we're puppets. Uh, the reason I don't
S1: think we're puppets is when. And people ask me this
S1: all the time, they say, well, if if God knew
S1: that Adam and Eve were going to sin, why did
S1: he make us with the ability to sin? The the
S1: the the will, free will. And the answer I always
S1: have is if God didn't give us the ability to
S1: respond appropriately or inappropriately, then we would just be computers.
S1: We'd be machines that are programmed and that's that. And
S1: and we can't grow in faith if we're just a machine.
S1: We can't learn to trust. We can't, uh, grow in
S1: obedience if we. If we're just puppets on a string. Uh,
S1: I just don't see it. I think that the Lord
S1: Jesus deliberately put them in that circumstance, knowing that the
S1: storm was coming so that the that not I don't
S1: I don't know in what sense, but he knew that
S1: they were going to grow in their faith because of
S1: being there. And and how they would respond would help
S1: them or strengthen them So that's. I don't think that's
S1: that at all is puppets on a string, I think.
S1: How are we going to every one of us? I'm,
S1: I'm saying how will we respond when we go through
S1: a storm? Uh, are we going to have the mistaken
S1: ideas the disciples did? Or are we going to call
S1: out to him to deliver us, just as the disciples
S1: ultimately did? What do you think?
S8: Hey, um, that helps a lot. Now, what about the scenario?
S8: We're just caught up into a big battle between God
S8: and Satan, and we're caught in the middle, and he's
S8: looking for the right reaction from us to pick the
S8: right side.
S9: Uh.
S1: I don't think that that's sort of a dualistic kind
S1: of philosophy, that there's a good God and a bad god,
S1: and and we're kind of between the two gods. I listen,
S1: read the book of revelation and the point of the
S1: book of revelation written to people who are being persecuted
S1: in the 90s in the Roman Empire, was to show
S1: them the end times and show them who wins, that
S1: God is sovereignly in charge. And, uh, it's not about,
S1: you know, which which side you're going to choose. It's look,
S1: God is sovereign and he is going to win. And
S1: we're not caught up at all, uh, we are cared for, protected,
S1: looked after by the God who is faithful. So no,
S1: I don't I, I probably wouldn't take that dualistic approach. Randy. Okay.
S8: Okay. Um, okay. Well, I've been a Christian over 40 years, and, uh, uh,
S8: the struggles he's put me through and I put myself through, that,
S8: I see other people my family go through. Uh, once
S8: in a while I get angry at God. Not not
S8: so much angry as, uh. It's like you said, to
S8: try to build their faith. How much? How much do
S8: they have to go through? How much do I have
S8: to go through to get to that point of faith?
S1: You know, let me just say this. I mentioned this before. Uh,
S1: John 1613. In this world you will have tribulation. But
S1: fear not. I have overcome the world. We are promised tribulation.
S1: But I want to tell you this to people who
S1: don't know the Lord are promised tribulation as well. The
S1: difference between people who know the Lord and don't know
S1: the Lord is not that we don't go through tribulation.
S1: They do. We all go through tribulation, difficulties, challenges. The
S1: difference is, is who walks through them with us, who
S1: empowers us as we go through them, who builds our faith,
S1: who encourages us as we go through those storms. So, uh,
S1: don't lose heart, Randy. He. He has overcome the world.
S1: He's powerful enough to get you through. Okay. So don't
S1: lose heart at all. Well, we're going to. That's the
S1: first hour. I can't believe it. We have to come
S1: back with a second hour of open line on most
S1: of these stations. So don't go away if your station
S1: doesn't carry open line. Check us out on the Moody
S1: Radio app or online or with the podcast during the break,
S1: check out our web page, Open Line radio.org. It's got
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S1: a ministry of Moody Bible Institute. We're coming right back, so.
UU: Don't go away.